As a Rasmussen poll shows Republicans opening up a 7-point lead on the generic congressional ballot, a new Gallup poll shows some very bad numbers for the Obama agenda:
• By more than 2-1, Americans say the United States shouldn't close the terrorist prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, as Obama has promised. • By 49%-44%, they oppose passing a health care bill in Congress this year, which he calls critical. • A majority are against holding the trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in New York, and nearly six in 10 say the self-proclaimed 9/11 mastermind should be tried in a military rather than a civilian court. That's at odds with the decision announced this month by Attorney General Eric Holder. When it comes to seven specific areas, Obama no longer commands majority support on any. On only two - energy policy and global warming - does he have a net positive rating. On the economy, health care, jobs and Afghanistan, a majority disapprove of how he's doing. There's an almost even divide on his handling of terrorism: 45% approve, 47% disapprove.
One possible bright spot: Only 39 percent favor withdrawing from Afghanistan, while 47 percent favor increasing the number of troops, a policy Obama will likely announce next week. (Nine percent of voters favor keeping the number of troops at the current level.)